Best known for producing tiles of superior loveliness, Bert & May have transformed a barge in Hackney into the chicest new B&B in London. We went to have a look around. All aboard!
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The exterior of the barge is painted in matt black paint with the roof acting as an outdoor seating area fitted with a BBQ
Deepest Hackney, London's post-industrial hipster heartland. Once upon a time (namely pre-credit crunch), Vyner Street's repurposed warehouses were the buzzing heart of an important pocket in London's art scene. While most of the galleries that found fame followed the money to Fitzrovia, the feeling of new and exciting things happening in this part of town lingers.
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The walls are clad in reclaimed wooden planks from Bert & May, stained white to contrast with black window frames. The black leather 'SZ02' chair is a __design by architect Martin Visser for T'Spectrum (Netherlands, 1954). The wall lights were supplied by Atelier Areti
Down the road, past Technology Will Save Us - the __design and education company that make DIY coding kits - is the London base of Bert & May, currently best known as purveyors of encaustic tiles, a fact which I'm absolutely certain is about to change.
The rumble that something was afoot started at last year's Clerkenwell design Week, when the company showcased a barge co-designed by stylist Laura Fulmine. This same barge has now become one of London's loveliest new B&Bs.
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The shelves are filled with pieces from from Flow Gallery and Sigmar
'Lyris' is moored on a quiet stretch of Regent's Canal behind the Bert & May showroom; the sound of lapping water only occasionally punctuated by the reassuring whirr of bike wheels and thump of passing joggers. Its interiors are a lesson in sophisticated small space living, showcasing Bert & May's distinctive brand of understated eclecticism.
Upscaled Moorish pattern is combined with Scandinavian mid-century furniture. A sprinkling of Japanese design comes in the form of lovely handpicked kitchen objects from Momosan. The bespoke ceramic tea set by Vanja Bazdulj is based on Bert & May tile designs, and was commissioned specially for the project, while the shelves are stuffed with one-off pieces from Flow Gallery and Sigmar.
There is underfloor heating (if you don't want to use the wood-burning stove) and a roof terrace with outdoor furniture from 19 Greek Street and a BBQ. A vintage rowing boat for paddling around in will soon join the two Brompton bicycles.
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The 'Azilal' rug by Larusi is complemented by an 'Illum Wikkelso' sofa by The Modern Warehouse with cushions from Conran. The Eileen Gray 'Roattino' floor lamp is from Aram. Side tables are from Sigmar
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Pine 'Pirkka' dining table and chairs are designs by architect llmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu (Finland,1955). The ceramics on the table were specially made for Bert & May by Vanja Bazdulj, based on tile designs, as was the wall hanging by Native Line
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Interior detail of a bespoke Vanja Bazdulj ceramic cup
The barge project was originally conceived in part so that Lee Thornley, Bert & May's founder, would have a London base when he wasn't in Yorkshire, where he runs part of the business; and partly as an experiment in applying the brand's expanded offering of reclaimed wood, paint and furniture to a space. Having decided to find a barge, they then went to Liverpool on a word-of-mouth quest to find the best boat builder in the business to restore it.
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The plates on the wall in the kitchen were commissioned and made by Darkroom
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Restoration is familiar ground for Lee and his wife, whose story really begins in Andalucia, where they decamped to turn a dilapidated Spanish 'cortijo' into a boutique hotel. They regenerated the space with reclaimed materials at a time before reclamation became vogue. Bert & May came into being as an almost accidental offshoot, after the couple noticed the plethora of handmade antique tiles being discarded.
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The bathroom features Bert & May tiles. The bathroom shelf, toilet roll holder and towel hook were specially made for Bert & May by Katharina Eisenkoeck, along with the large mirror outside bathroom and the hooks in the bedroom
Initially dealing only in originals from their base near Harrogate, the game changed when they began to produce their own more affordable handmade versions, based on the vast library of original patterns they had collated. These form the basis of the brand's now recognisable aesthetic.
'We see ourselves as curators of a palette of materials,' says Lee. 'That's what we're really passionate about. Beautiful materials which in their raw form have an intrinsically timeless quality.'
The barge is the first of what will eventually be five, after securing permission to regenerate this stretch of canal into London's first floating hotel.
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The bedding and towels are from Larusi
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A wardrobe is concealed behind sliding doors, panelled to blend with the walls of the room
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Outside: Bert & May tiles and furniture from 19 Greek Street
Following the success of this water-bound wonder, the company launched Bert & May Spaces at this year's London Design Festival. A highly desirable rework of the prefabricated home, these eco-friendly houses made from reclaimed timber come in three sizes and can be ready, fully fitted, within 14 weeks of ordering.
'We want to change the way people approach small space living,' says Lee. 'To show that with good design and an eye for detail you can create sophisticated, afforable places to live very easily. We want to create things of beauty which also have integrity.'
